Recruiting: Not Everyone Is Cut Out For It

As a job seeker, you have probably met a lot of recruiters. After receiving a rejection letter, maybe you have blamed your unsuccessful job search on the recruiter. Being hurt and disappointed, job seekers don’t always think about all the other factors that contributed to the negative outcome of their job search: maybe you weren’t qualified for the position, maybe you didn’t have enough experience, maybe you were even overqualified.

The truth is, most of the times it does all come down to the recruiters. It’s in their job description to choose and hire new employees: they have to weigh all the factors and make the final decision. For you, the job seeker, it might seem like the recruiter has all the power in the world and wish to have power like that, as well.

Being a recruiter is easy, right?

Wrong. In reality, recruiting is one of the most stressful jobs in the business world. Before applying for a recruiting job, think about what it implies and what you can expect from this career.

Understanding What Goes on Behind Recruiters’ Doors

Recruiting may seem like a glamorous job, but it’s actually stressful in a number of areas. For one thing, there is a lot of pressure to choose the right candidate for a job. People are very tough to read and recruiters’ reputation depends on being right about people. Get a few placements in a row wrong and it can be pretty deflating. Decision making can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have to pick the ideal candidate out of thousands.

However, making the decision is not always the end of the process. Sometimes the candidate will choose not to take the job after it’s been offered. If you are dealing with a highly sought-after candidate, they may be choosing among multiple job offers. It can be extremely frustrating when someone turns down an offer that you worked hard for.

Rejecting candidates is another possible cause of sleepless nights. It feels like firing someone before they even become an employee. The recruiter has to find the right words to let someone down gently. Even then, you’ll probably have to deal with a lot of complaints, which can wear you out pretty quickly.

The Aftermath of Recruiters’ Stress

The stress that comes with recruiting has a negative impact on many people. First of all, recruiter’s health is at risk. Significant stress can lead to issues like high blood pressure, insomnia, heart disease, and even cancer. Personal relationships are likely to suffer as well. When you’re under stress, you can’t always be there for your loved ones. You’re too caught up in your work. You lose patience over small issues that cause great arguments.

Recruiter’s stress also affects job candidates. Instead of meeting a patient person that’s willing to listen, they meet an anxious and short-tempered recruiter. This leads to the recruiter missing out on talented candidates and overlooking the right person. The job candidates will leave the interview disappointed and annoyed. Soon, all of their friends and friends of friends will talk about that grumpy recruiter who doesn’t let candidates finish sentences and makes them feel uncomfortable.

Another thing that can damage the company’s image is having inadequate employees. If you constantly make wrong decisions as a recruiter, the organization will be filled with the wrong people. It can lead to higher turnover and poor results. Also, the hiring process often means financial losses, so you should aim to reduce employee turnover. As the recruiter, you must have the finances of the company you work for in mind at all times.

Is There a Fix?

Recruiters can combat stress on their own and with the help of the company. Recruiters should practice stress relief techniques like breathing or meditation. It is wise to take short breaks every hour or two and one longer break in the day. Our brain needs rest to function normally. Setting priorities is another way of dealing with difficult decisions, don’t waste time and energy on unimportant things. Exercising in nature can be a great way to unwind.

Businesses can offer stress management training with the help of experts, but can also organize meetings to fight stress as a group. It is a good idea to hire a psychologist that is available to employees. Companies can also help by splitting up the hiring load between multiple recruiters.

Two Sides of the Coin

Overall, recruiting is a tough gig and is not for everyone. Now, you should understand why the recruiter you last interviewed with looked annoyed, nervous, and maybe even impolite. Try to understand that they are only human, too, their goal is to find the right person for the job, they don’t have anything against you personally.

If you still want to be a recruiter, you should approach the job with the right attitude. That way, you can mitigate the stress and achieve better results. Being aware of the dangers of stress, you can place more people in the right jobs and help your company.